| 2009/2010 NBA Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | @ |  |
| 8-13 | 17-6 | |
| December 14th, 2009 | ||
| Amway Arena | ||
| 7:00 PM | ||
| Sun Sports | ||
| Probable Starters | ||
| T.J. Ford | PG | Jason Williams |
| Brandon Rush | SG | J.J. Redick |
| Mike Dunleavy | SF | Mickael Pietrus |
| Troy Murphy | PF | Rashard Lewis |
| Roy Hibbert | C | Dwight Howard |
| Game Officials | ||
| Ken Mauer | ||
| Sean Wright | ||
| Gary Zielinski | ||
It's a battle of Eastern Conference teams missing their leading scorers tonight at Amway Arena, as the host Orlando Magic have probably lost Vince Carter (stomach ailment) and the visiting Indiana Pacers will be without Danny Granger (torn plantar fascia). Additionally, Indiana will possibly not have the services of second-leading scorer Dahntay Jones (sore hip), while facing minutes limits for key contributors Mike Dunleavy and Tyler Hansbrough, who are coming off injuries of their own. Who's excited to watch this war of attrition?!
In theory, the Magic are better equipped than the Pacers to compensate for injury. J.J. Redick has proven to be a capable stopgap starter, while Mickael Pietrus has never been especially gunshy when called upon. They also have Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis, their healthy All-Stars, to attack the Pacers down low and from the perimeter, respectively. However, Indiana's Troy Murphy, T.J. Ford, and even Roy Hibbert are capable scorers, although we doubt Hibbert will do much against Howard, who's limited opposing centers to 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, the best such figures in the NBA.
Indy's on a two-game win streak after a six-game skid, while Orlando's dropped two straight for the first time since the last two games of the NBA Finals. How will the Magic respond in their first home game after an iffy four-game road swing?
Tip's at 7.